Dear Karen,Thank you for the award! I am honored you come and enjoy the pictures of the birds. I am patiently waiting for the butterflies to return. Photography has been my artistic expression for the last couple of years. Learning the camera and lens has taken me awhile. Maybe I will open my art chest back up and create something.... Yet, the light is just perfect right now. Maybe tomorrow I will get the paints out. For now I want to go outside. I want to be with the birds and the light and the breeze.Thank you again,Sherry

Dear Mary,Birds of China would be very interesting as would the butterflies. Kansas City has plans for a Japanese Garden. It is to be built in the city. I have never been civic minded but I could get involved with a garden or a Butterfly Conseratory. In the winter I would go to the garden and would happily spend time with butterflies.

Dear Jeanne,Thank you! We live in such interesting times. Information is readily available. I love learning about the different cultures in our world and their traditions.I have a few lanterns and a wee bit of information about the history of Lunar New Year. My kids like it when I send Red Envelopes, they hold money!:-D (laughing smiley);-) (winking smiley)~:-) (one hair smiley)Hugs,Sherry

Dear Meggie,Did you watch the solar eclipse?Not sure exactly where you are and where the eclipse was to be seen. People born in the year of the Rat are suppose to be very family centered too. I will include your husband in my thoughts. Depression can be so hard. Different family members have also had long periods of depression. Love him right on into feeling good again. My husband and I both were born in the year of the Dragon.A new baby! That is exciting. I have three great nephews. Much prosperity to you in this New Year. May your rains stop for a bit so you can enjoy the beach!Sherry

Happy Rat Year. That sounds odd. I just watched the movie Rattoullie. It was a fun movie. It has a side shoton the DVD about rat things. It mentioned the year of the Rat amongst other bits of knowledge about rats.

Dear Deb,I was so pleased to see my city put up the lanterns a few years ago. They have lights in them too and at night the foot bridge looks so pretty. Our Art Museum also has a nice Chinese and Japanese Art section. Sherry

Dear Lisa,I am far behind on my movie reviews! I will get to them this weekend. I will put "Rattoullie" on the queue.Rats are most likely a mis-understood creature. The Black Plague may have given them a bad reputation.Happy New Year! Sherry

Dear Chris,The cultural exchange is very nice. I am looking forward to learning more about each of the sister cities. I found a pair of Persion slippers the other day.Now to get an outfit to go with!I have my Japanese silk dresses and purses. One culture at a time!Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year to you too.Sherry